One Way Founder Paul Payne stands up for recruitment industry's bad reputation

Fri, 11 Nov 2016 10:35am GMT

Executive Grapevine

Executive Grapevine | Executive Grapevine International Ltd

The Managing Director and Co-Founder of a leading recruitment firm has stepped up to defend the sector.

Paul Payne of One Way recently wrote an article, published by WeAreTheCity.com, claiming that he doesn’t agree with the criticism recruiters receive regarding the industry. He explained that as the MD of a recruitment firm, it upsets him to see the sector bear the brunt of a bad reputation.

He asked the reader: “After all, how often do you read anything positive about the hiring industry? From our perspective, all of this criticism – not directed at us it must be said – simply isn’t founded in any truth and it’s only a tiny percentage of the profession that drags the rest of it down.

“But why does the recruitment industry have such a terrible reputation and what is it actually like in reality?”

The article highlights the recurring issue of ‘a few bad apples ruining a bunch’, and urges people not to tar everyone with the same brush. It is easy to get caught up in ill-advised pre-conceptions, but in reality, the industry itself is reputable, honest and populated by hard-working professionals.

As Payne pointed out: “Recruitment is, rather obviously, about putting people in jobs and it can be an incredibly satisfying task.”

Though the MD does goes on to say that it’s “not an easy job and the images you probably see on LinkedIn of the jet-setting, sports car driving, money raking recruiter aren’t necessarily true outside of the top performers in the market.”

Rounding off the open letter, Payne expresses hope that recruiters chose a firm that upholds the same values they adhere to, saying that: “Ultimately, your experience of working in recruitment comes down to the organisation you pick and, without blowing our own trumpet, we think we’re a good one.”